NBA Greatest Duels: Magic Johnson (23/12/20) vs Julius Erving (''Rock the Baby'' Dunk) (1983)

[@omegabyte167]

I remember it like it was yesterday that was one of the greatest dunks in the history of the NBA Julius. The Dr Erving

[@mr.goodenough3796]

I was watching this game , 12 years old, and a huge Dr. J fan. When he stole that ball and rocked the cradle and dunked on Cooper was so exhilarating!

[@jamierapp8060]

i had to wait thru the entire game just to see Dr. J's awesome dunk, & i am glad i did. Kick-ass game. Magic & the Doctor were amazing.

[@jonnuanez2843]

12:30 One of the most iconic plays of all time. The whole game isxa thing of beauty-fundamentals plus the show, from both sides. Take advantage of watching the old clips-they show you how it's supposed to be done. No 5-steps with the ball; no showboating on each basket scored; no bench jumping up after every basket; etc. You just come in and do your job.

[@coolmod7731]

Hey man you couldn't have said it any better. Well put my man... Well articulated!

[@Riles3152]

What's wrong with teammates jumping up and cheering after every basket?

[@ponypower8]

That left-handed shot by Doctor J was awesome.

[@TheVikings1976]

Classic 80"s basketball. I skipped school back in 8th grade and took the south jersey speedline into philly for the parade with some of my classmates. GREAT MEMORIES!!!!

[@kingstonban]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@iceboogie827]

Doc Stop Dribbling at the 3Pt Line!!! And Flew thru the Air like a Soaring Eagle!!! The Greatest and Greatest Dunk Ever!!!

[@mikejordan7239]

Man these matchups back then were magical. Nothing compares to this today.

[@oneday5572]

Yea todays NBA just doesn’t have that magical feel to it anymore. If feels so empty now. I don’t know who anyone is, there’s no backstories, there’s no real rivalries. It just feels like a league full of teenagers who don’t care about the game, they just want the check. Shit sucks now

[@rafikz77]

Today’s matchups are waaaaay better😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@rafikz77]

@@oneday5572yeah lebron, Jokoc, Wemby, Luka don’t care about the game at all What a retarded statement

[@garymccloskeyjr.6265]

Man the Lakers vs. the Sixers in a packed Spectrum.....that had to be an incredible night. I wish I wasn't 2 years old then I could have seen this or even just been old enough to watch it live on TV.

[@biffalobull2335]

Today’s players could learn a lot from the Doctors dunk at the end. He didn’t thump his chest...stare down his opponent...run up on the press desk and shout to the crowd...he just ran back down the court. Like a man.

[@irlshinigami4390]

Fuck that staring down opponents is fun and entertaining

[@biffalobull2335]

@@irlshinigami4390 Because you’re 7 years old

[@keeosama]

No your just old and probably white

[@biffalobull2335]

@@keeosama You’re (yes its you’re, not your) probably a stupid young wannabe rapper who won’t make it to 30 years old

[@kevintownsend3840]

One of the greatest slam dunks in NBA history and no hype afterwards 👏

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Smartest defensive play Michael Cooper ever made was getting the hell outta the way on that rock the cradle dunk by the Doctor

[@iceboogie827]

.. Lmao!!!

[@smokeyjoe795]

Right and Cooper was lethal blocking dunks and layups from behind.

[@globalmonkey007]

@M Thanks for the non sequitur! As a tribute to your soccer comment, I'd like to add that Cheerios is the number one breakfast cereal in the world! Cheerios are even more popular than Frosted Flakes (they're grrrreat!) and Lucky Charms (they're magically delicious!). Also, by the year 2070 A.D., nobody will care about that either. smh

[@fernandovillareal1799]

@M soccer sucks,

[@surfshack2]

The Golden Years of basketball. I'm a Sixers fan so i never heard Chck Hearn before. You are right he was one of the greatest play-by-play announcers I've ever heard! I never heard anybody do a play-by-play that good.

[@markgaston4416]

Look for the late Bill King doing Warriors games on radio. He was incredible, too! He and Hearn were from the same area in Illinois.

[@surfshack2]

@@markgaston4416 This Bill King? kzbin.info/www/bejne/npqkq2ekZamJr5osi=VNEaYy961KEmbnmo

[@TheNickJonesExperience]

Dr.J is the template..a true artist and visionary.

[@oneman9121]

I always laugh when people say Magic Johnson had no offensive game. He's one of the most underrated post players ever, developed into a 23 ppg scorer by the time 1987 rolled around, and even developed a 3-point shot by 1989. Critics argue he couldn't shoot, however Magic ALWAYS had the 15-18 foot shot in his arsenal. AND he can hit free-throws.

[@glenday7474]

Yeah, that was hogwash. Magic is a career 52% field goal shooter. The best of any guard in the Hall of Fame!

[@alfarabi73]

Straw man argument. Nobody really said Magic couldn't score after the mid-80s.

[@keithclark7266]

Magic did not have to be a big time scorer because Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was still getting the job done.

[@Jangocat]

Magic was a WAY better LeBron lol He was the best PG in history no question, could play every position.

[@PaulFos]

Magic was always an offensive weapon. His fast breaks created many points, his unreal passes and team play made average players appear great; and his ball handling skills at 6'9', super layups, baby hooks, 20ft shots, post ups, clutches, and hocus pocus moves all made him the face of the NBA in the 80s. It was Magic who made me love basketball.......no other player.

[@kurtadams3021]

Two of my favorite players The Magic Man and the Dr.

[@BlondesarefromHeaven]

beautiful rock the baby cradle dunk...damn....not even jordan has that in his game

[@brucescott4261]

@Pastor of Muppets ...Not like this one. Doc's hands were extremely larger than Air Jordan. Twelve inches from the wrists.

[@bozire]

@Pastor of Muppets Not like that one- ever.

[@ShogunX11]

@MANCHESTER UNITED F.C your post is irrelevant. Begone!

[@richardkaiser1795]

Finally sweetie someone who knows the truth and not afraid to tell it ❤

[@devilzdandruff9199]

Magic Johnson... my all time favorite player.

[@russelljoyner9356]

The best poster dunk of all time!

[@justindza]

Not gonna lie this is more fun to watch than the current nba

[@johngapter362]

Better basketball, I always pull for my Nuggets & love live games but can hardly even sit thru a whole game these days. Go Nuggs, let's get some jewelry up in here

[@Dreamhaxx02]

Julius had 35k Points total with his ABA and NBA Career put together

[@briantroydegroat1192]

Alot of people don't know that

[@scottcooksey5284]

Check out Dan Issel, about the same for him they both surpass Kareem.,,, Unfortunately part of the NBA ABA merger was the ABA records were wiped clean and not included in NBA stats.

[@brucescott4261]

I saw this game, which was televised on January 5th, 1983 on KHJ-TV, Channel 9, in Los Angeles. I was living in Pasadena, California at the time.

[@sharonraizor2839]

At 12:49 you see the crowd rise to their feet because they know something spectacular is about to happen

[@lanierholt9715]

YES! That's my favorite part, seeing the crowd rise row by row!!

[@kerangbusuk1248]

Magic, Jordan, Bird, Erving, Kareem. That's My Five.

[@geestack9002]

You would have to doctor J at small forward and bird at the power forward

[@joeblank618]

@@geestack9002 Not in his prime .

[@giannivisadi8709]

mine too!

[@tavoruiz324]

Great starting five

[@professorl.hilton.]

Oh I so agree,,That would be outstanding

[@eddiel2531]

People forget how hot Andrew Tony was this year

[@michaelnorris6168]

This is real basketball. Watching this tape reminds me on why if I could ever start my all time nba team, Magic would be my first or second all time pick. Magic could do anything, and everything. Kareem, Magic, Bird, Mchale, and of course Michael.

[@brettshepherd5240]

As a longtime sixers fan, the drs dunks bring me tears of joy

[@dlawson688]

glad i watched this. its crazy when people say the players today are better than the guys back then. Most of those guys in this video would be very high players in todays game.

[@JohnLick96]

dlawson688 you're kinding right? In what way would Bobby Jones be a high caliber player? He'd be competing with Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis. I couldn't even imagine him going up against 7'3 Porzingod.

[@sportsfanatic1936]

dlawson688 Oh God. Be quiet. That is so not true.

[@jeremywabakee5449]

athletes are way more advanced physically now bro, humans period

[@sportsfanatic1936]

Jeremy Wabakee They just don't get it. How are players from 30 years ago better than now? That shit is crazy talk to me

[@sportsfanatic1936]

George Ybarra Today's athletes are better. You're probably under 30 talking about this old shit

[@steverakes6182]

The NBA's golden era with so many great players and my god that Dr. J. dunk at the end, nobody can tell me Jordan could do that.

[@scottdavidson7001]

Mr Explorer Doc actually played above the rim more than Jordan. Julius was very much a low post up player. Jordan had a different game.

[@lawrencebrodsky2573]

Are you kidding, this is old man Erving. Unless you watched him young in his prime , you can't know how great he was.

[@willshad]

@@lawrencebrodsky2573 He was 33...not exactly an 'old man' lol

[@dennisscott9730]

“MY #1 FAVORITE DUNK EVER🏀!”

[@ronnyjoe230]

9:57 that Cooper pass to worthy!! and the facial!! what a play

[@lefonzopollock4345]

Chick Hearn has to be the most entertaining broadcaster of all time! "Landsberger has a new haircut, he looks good" 😅😂🤣

[@Jangocat]

The thing is Doc was old and past his prime at this time. Every player on the floor admired and was influenced by Doc, including Magic in his prime.

[@kingstonban]

Profound truth💯💯💯🎯

[@coolmod7731]

@@kingstonban Yes sir it is!!!

[@Nino_J]

Man..I wish the NBA was this physical now..

[@mrgreenjeans1794]

Watched the entire series. Never forget that rock the baby dunk towards the end of a great game. Watching at home with friends drinking Pabst blue ribbon in returnable bottles. The series was swept in 4 but every game was awesome.

[@karl6852]

At least you got a rebate on the series.

[@toddb1206]

this was a regular season game. worthy was injured during the finals and didn't play.

[@markgaston4416]

@@toddb1206 And that’s why Bobby Jones destroyed the Lakers in the Finals. Worthy’s absence.

[@johnnydotz]

I was at this game. What a night!

[@stewartandrews488]

You've got Jordan and Dr. J greatest athletes ever in basketball simply incredible

[@pranasnesmocnas4919]

4:38 what a shot

[@JayantaParmeggianiSimoni]

seems a butterfly....I love Doc J

[@marvelandgroup]

Nice post move by Magic

[@panama8009]

Loved Chick Hearn! Miss his simulcast games. Always knew how to tell the story.

[@DwainDwight]

awesome. and that dunk by Dr J. he will always be my favourite player.

[@hectorecasaus2022]

Dr J and Magic superplayers!!!!!!

[@JamesAllenJr]

You are not the only one. We here in LA were so blessed to have Chick Hearn as our play by play commentator for so long. He certainly was one of the finest of all time.

[@motorhead5245]

When NBA was something for real men, there was more talent in these 2 teams than in all the NBA today

[@brianburton5946]

Stupid comment

[@oscarmilian5692]

That's not a stupid comment he's absolutely right 💯

[@motorhead5245]

@@brianburton5946 you are a stupid

[@jameswilliams2085]

You have all-time greats on these two teams, but the game of basketball has evolved and the players today are better than the players whom played the game 40 years ago. EVOLUTION!!!!

[@motorhead5245]

@@jameswilliams2085 unfortunately has CONVOLUTED ...

[@dannymax852]

Chick Hearn, the best!

[@justinfootball212]

He's got a brand new short style haircut he looks good 2.43

[@larrytxeast8756]

I know it's just a "highlights" clip, but it reminds me of why I think Dr J was just as great as Larry Bird, and maybe even better. Everyone ALWAYS has Larry Bird in their all-time starting 5, but I'd be inclined to go with "The Doc" myself over him.

[@porkfrog2785]

larry txeast part of that is Bird and Boston beating down an older J, and people forgetting that Julius started pro ball 8 full years before Bird. When I was a kid, that's the Julius I saw, the one 10 years into things fighting off the young lions. Another part of it is the failures against GREAT teams in the Finals, and then finally breaking thru with Moses Malone leading the way, and winning the MVP. But if you watch enough of these old games, you realize Julius wasn't just 'pretty' and flashy, but a well-rounded player, not unlike Bird, great at rebounding, passing, and a great competitor, but a better defensive player than Bird. People do that age thing with Kareem too, Kareem is not that good, not tough, slow, no stamina...all the while forgetting the monster with the Bucks the same way people forget those two Erving ABA titles...I'd take Bird over J, but it's very close. Bird was just such a better shooter, it's hard to ignore. I have all the respect in the world for Dr J tho. Luv'em

[@madcapper6]

PorkFrog Bird was one of the greatest playmaking forwards of all time too and he was clutch. His defensive skills were also underrated in my opinion. He wasn't a great on-ball defender because he wasn't very quick. But he was a good post defender and good team defender, picking up on switches and things like that. But when the game, or the series is on the line, the chips are down and time is running out, there's no one I'd rather have with the ball than the hick from French Lick.

[@porkfrog2785]

madcapper6 Bird's only real vunerability defensively was he could be beaten off the dribble, but yeah, he was far from a liability on defense, and his foot speed and leaping ability pre-serious injury was at least average. At 6'9" he got a lot of blocks and is on the all-time list steals-wise. Simply one of if not the most well-rounded players of all-time These myths about 'unathletic-slow ass-rooted to the floor' Larry Bird are easily dispelled if people would just watch the games. I watched the games back then, but hated Boston and preferred he Lakers, who I had watched pre-Magic when the games were tape delayed and everybody wore the same off the shelf shoes. I watch them now, as they are right here on youtube, but you know how it is, repetition becomes fact to people there's a clip of Bird against Jordan in the 63 pt game that is played over and over, and in it, you see Bird isn't really all that slow of foot and forces Micheal to take the harder shot, which MJ cans, of course. 75% of the time, Jordan just blows by a guy in that situation or forces him to foul. Bird was actually considered a good defender in his early years and prime. If he was really as bad as all that, he would get exposed constantly and lit up constantly. When I watch those old games[today I watched a newer one, Game 1 from Shaq's first title] I've never heard an announcer say 'Bird is getting lit up' Bird cannot stay with his man', etc I was mostly defending J, who I never really watched as a semi-knowledable fan[not quite that old] and wanted to say after studying his game, that he was a very great and well-rounded player who did nearly everything well. Great shot blocker and rebounder for a 6'6 or 7 guy Bird is my favorite player, now that I watch him without the hate Jordan>BIrd>Julius>LeBron...LeBron, like Julius, has trouble with the outside shot, it's why I take Bird. LeBron, Bird said, is 'the most like me'...except for that outside shot. But you can't go wrong with any of those guys I put Julius over LeBron sort of arbitrarily...I mean c'mon, it's Dr J...the coolest player of all-time :-)

[@vonholland64]

larry txeast he n Doc were the best.

[@vonholland64]

larry txeast I say Doc had the better career n I loved Bird and was a better defender than Bird. They were equals n bird generally had the better team except for this year

[@Jim_L]

Remember: 20 assists really translates into 40 points. So Magic basically provided the Lakers with 63 points (because he had 23 points).

[@Jim_L]

@bananaman5668 And it was not just the results of his efforts that were so incredible, but he did it with such showmanship. Meaning, he was just so gosh-darn fun to watch. His insane no-look passes you can find on KZbin I could watch for hours. You sit there and are like, "How on earth did he just do that?!" Magic is easily ONE OF the greatest to have ever played the game.

[@Jim_L]

@bananaman5668 If this were a courtroom, and you were a lawyer, you just made one heck of a good case on behalf of your client. 😃👍

[@JayantaParmeggianiSimoni]

12:27!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@NoMercyDB]

this is real basketball

[@sportsfanatic1936]

David Gomez What is "real basketball"?

[@delturge]

Hey, the "Rock the Baby" dunk wasn't just an in game dunk. It was a 4th quarter in a tight game, in game, dunk!

[@iceboogie827]

"Best Dunk Everrrrrrr"!!!!

[@marcoindiano4683]

When NBA was something for real men .......

[@beeblack2]

Remember this game 82 83 season.

[@vonholland64]

Bee Danger I watched it

[@bryanjones4987]

The greatest dunk/move/player of all times.💖🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥☺️

[@noise6327]

AFTER WINNING TIME. HAD TO SEE THAT DUNK. KAREM SAID IT LOOK DIFFERENT UPCLOSE HUH LMFAO

[@bcask61]

Greatest era in NBA history.

[@SidLaw500]

That dunk!

[@jessicacorminboeuf2441]

merci merci merci de partager ces vidéos car malgré je suis née en 1983 j'aime revoir les matchs des Pionniers ( mon avis ) En gros yessss merci

[@leonblack751]

Unbelievable Dunk By Dr J

[@gturcott1]

Doc! Best finisher on break ever

[@noahdb100]

The commentator is Chick Hearn...he of the line from Fletch, "Fletch is 6-6...6-10 with the afro...."

[@GHOST91141]

The Rock the Baby dunk is still one of the best in game dunks I've ever seen

[@bryanjones4987]

Magic said, when Coop went up to defend against the greatest dunk ever ... he said out loud... Good luck Coop, only God can save you now!!! 😂😂😂😂😅💖

[@juicethreetwo]

What great players, magic, Wilkes and worthy and Macadoo and Kareem?! Moses, bobby Jones, toney, cheeks and the underrated Dr J. No question dr is on the same level as bird and magic and Jordan. I saw dr j in the aba. And the nba.

[@areguapiri]

Doctor WAS the ABA!

[@panama8009]

Doctor and later David Skywalker Thompson in ABA.

[@dariussuite1605]

There was never a duel between Dr.J and Magic, they never guarded each other.

[@Chrisicola]

Watched this game on TV.

[@Gmoneyirl]

He baptized his ass with that dunk lmao

[@rockaway2k]

He baptized a LOT of people with his dunks! The fact is, networks act like this is the only dunk Doc ever mesmerized people with. Where is the footage of Doc’s one step glide dunk from 18 feet he performed in a game? Billy Paultz was SO amazed that he walked back to the identical spot of the dunk AFTER the game, stood and shook his head. But, somehow, this dunk and the dunk over Bill Walton in the 76 Finals are the only ones they harp on. I guess Doc only dunked on the West Coast teams…

[@geoffreymartin5924]

These teams would dismantle the "Big 1" in Miami.

[@oldmanfreakoutsofhistory1085]

I would like to see Chris bosh vs Magic and dr. J with their side kicks vs just bosh in a handicap game

[@tubenachos]

Love Chick Hearn.

[@markgaston4416]

This full game please? I remember an upload of this same game in full was on you tube. Jamaal Wilkes was incredible in this regular season game from 83.

[@masco2483]

Man Shout out to the broadcaster that dude is good

[@alexcoro]

Holy crap that commentator is godlike O.O

[@123slasher.16]

Just think about this. Wilkes, Magic and Jabbar combined to go 6-0 in NCAA Finals. Worthy makes them 7-1 in NCAA Finals. Wilkes won a ROY and a title in Golden State. Dr. J won 2 ABA titles. McAdoo won 3 scoring titles, Jabbar won one and Doc led the ABA in scoring. Malone, Jabbar and McAdoo all were rebounding champs Doc was a ABA and NBA MVP. Moses and Magic were multiple MVPs. McAdoo was a MVP. Jabbar was a ROY winner. Doc, ABA, Moses, Magic and Jabbar were all multiple Finals MVPs. Worthy, Magic and Jabbar were all Final Four MOPs. Jabbar, Magic and Worthy were all Final Four MOP and NBA Finals MVP. That's the type of talent Philly and LA had in that era.

[@clementomoregie9093]

LMAO @ The Commentator 'and Malone was going up and down like a Yo-Yo'.

[@joesmoe8983]

Back when it was really good😉

[@eddiel2531]

That was January 5, 1983. I posted news paper clippings all over my room after they won that championship. My house burned down on January 12, one week later. I was 13.

[@bobbypadilla4641]

9:56 Great pass by Cooper! Why haven't the Lakers retired his number?🏀🤔

[@EricGentile]

Remember it like yesterday...

[@LeightonAtkinson-bm6of]

Julius Irving one of the greatest NBA players in NBA history

[@Lamont-p8i]

Julius game and body style would vive theze players of toda fits. Just remembering how fast and effortlessly he gets up and down the cour and once he goes up and seemingly glides to hoop, cant do nothing bujt foul him , hang time is unbelievable

[@gl6996]

Pause @ 1:03. A guy's head is captured directly in the square on the backboard. I catch little things like this... lol 😂

[@kurtadams3021]

RIP Big Mo

[@samwelsh8241]

and that was 100% necessary players today will do that uncontested but here he did it on someone in a finals game

[@bryanjones4987]

The greatest dunk ever!!!

[@markshaggy7914]

‘Waaaaay & rock the baby to sleep & slaaaaam dunk!’

[@statman29neb]

Moses was a great player, but I would disagree on the most dominant player for one year. We were not alive when Wilt averaged 50 points and 27 rebounds in a single season.

[@zylzyl3823]

Dr J like a kite on the air , he contours his body in a unique way . Lol ... magic looks like a running robot .

[@marzilyas]

yeah, if anything you can see what an absolutely ferocious rebounder he was

[@dennisscott5102]

"THIS ROCK THE BABBY ASLEEP & SLAM DUNK IS THE BEST DR J DUNK EVER & IT WAS EVEN BETTER WATCHIN MICHAEL COOPER DUCK HIS HEAD & GET OUT DR J'S WAY!!!!" "I WISH THIS DUNK WAS A POSTER CAUSE THE POSTER WOULD'VE BEN ON MY BEADROOM WALL!!!!"

[@TheScottlloyd305]

It was a poster, I had it on my wall. Of course I'm from Philly so we had that poster

[@lwatch5336]

wow Chick Hearn broadcaster coined the in game Dr . J dunk rock the baby......Nice Call

[@JBMUSICEXP]

If magic wanted to score instead of pass he woulda been up there in point.. when he wanted to go to the hole I think he was maybe more dangerous than MJ.. I remember in 91 anytime magic would drive it was like easy dunk. Was my dad's favorite and dad knew the business

[@garyth65]

4:45 great shot!

[@marzilyas]

1:17 what a beautiful shot

[@gfanarakos]

legendary match no matter who won ... it should be taught in college as great athletisism

[@Wondertroy1TV]

I was a sizer/laker fan living in Philly I was torn....

[@ECWnWWF]

back in the day when NBA Basketball in Philadelphia was strong. If you look at this video, there's actually people in the stands.

[@ponypower8]

In your face dunk by Magic??!! WHOA!!

[@mdcool3487]

I miss them days with the great chick hern calling the game when the real stars of the game came out to play like the great Doctor J damn take me back for real.

[@areguapiri]

Watch carefully the basic fundamentals and pure shooting skills each player had back then.

[@WobblinGoblin1]

Look at all the Hall of Famers on the court at the same time, and this is without Kareem (who was injured at the time).

[@karl6852]

I watched this series to completion. I think the Lakers were more dangerous without Kareem here because their team speed was accentuated. I was 15 and hanging in suspense on every point. Great memories even though the Sixers lost. I watch these with fondness and some of that original excitement. I don't watch today's game.